Secondment experiences

Liyana Valiya PeedikakkalJuly 2015Development of a novel super-resolution microscope using dynamic light modulationUniversity of California San DiegoMarch - July 2016

My project entails developing a novel illumination system using a Digital Micromirror Device for super resolution imaging. I visited Professor Suck Jun's lab in the University of California San Diego for 5 months from March to July 2016. The project I was working on was to combine the advanced long-term bacterial imaging technology of the Jun lab with a novel imaging and illumination platform developed by the Cadby lab, with the aim of imaging the growth of large numbers of individual bacteria through their life-cycle using a combination of imaging techniques. During my visit I applied confocal imaging to image E. coli cells. I also built an epi-fluorescence targeted illumination system to selectively illuminate bacteria of interest from a group of growing E. coli cells.

At the end of my visit I got an opportunity to give a presentation on the system we developed with an emphasis on the epi-fluorescence targeted illumination system which was of very much interest to the group. Apart from the great science I learned from Jun lab, I also made new friends. Working in another university and lab was amazing. Helping them with their optics projects and learning from them some new biology in an awesome sea facing campus was one of the best things that has happened in my career. I am grateful to my supervisor Dr Ashley Cadby for guiding me throughout and the University (through the Global Strategic Alliance scheme) for funding my visit.